Is Oklahoma State penalty a sign of things to come for Louisville and Kansas?
For programs fingered in the FBI investigation into college basketball corruption, the NCAA gave a possible peek into the future on Friday.
Oklahoma State was hit with a 2021 postseason ban as part of a penalty that includes three years of probation, scholarship reductions, recruiting restrictions, a $10,000 fine plus 1 percent of the men’s basketball budget, and a 20-year show cause order against a former coach.
If you remember, Oklahoma State was one of the schools named in findings by the Southern District of New York in its probe into college basketball fraud and bribery. Former associate head coach Lamont Evans admitted to accepting over $20,000 in bribes to move players in certain directions.
“The conduct at issue in this case was related to a broader scheme that involved money and influence at the intersection of college and professional basketball,” a statement from the NCAA’s committee on infractions said. “The scheme resulted in the arrest and prosecution of multiple individuals — including college basketball coaches — on conspiracy and bribery charges, and it led to significant NCAA reforms.”
[NCAA finally acting on FBI investigation]
Oklahoma State says it plans to appeal.
So what does this mean for Louisville and Kansas, among two of the schools that have received a Notice of Allegations from the NCAA?
The NCAA’s Committee on Infractions brought the hammer down on Oklahoma State. It is expected that both Kansas and Louisville will have their cases referred to the Independent Accountability Resolution Process, as has been done with cases against North Carolina State and Memphis. That body is outside the Committee on Infractions. Still, the OSU penalty signals the NCAA isn’t messing around.
Dick Vitale tweeted, “I have spoken to a # of head coaches today & the general feeling is that the @NCAA came down with a heavy hammer on @OSUMBB. Leads me to believe that there must be some schools shaking.”
Kansas has vigorously fought against the NCAA allegations leveled at Bill Self’s program. After having its 2013 NCAA title vacated, Louisville has said that it will also push back against the NCAA.
[How much can Kansas learn from Oklahoma State penalty?]
Meanwhile, LSU has denied Vitale’s report that the school has received a Notice of Allegations over Will Wade’s alleged violations uncovered in the probe. Arizona is being investigated by the NCAA, but has not received an NOA.
It’s a tough blow for Cade Cunningham, the nation’s No. 1 recruit according to 247Sports, who signed with Coach Mike Boynton and Oklahoma State. OSU also signed highly regarded prospects Rondel Walker (93), Matthew Alexander-Moncrieffe (150), Donovan Williams (235) and Montreal Pena (335). The Cowboys also picked up California Baptist grad transfer Ferron Flavors Jr.
National college basketball writer Jeff Goodman speculated on Twitter that Cunningham might now be interested in the G League.
This story was originally published June 5, 2020 at 1:18 PM.
